The Families of William Butler

William Butler, son of Samuel, was born about April 21, 1829, at Bottisham, England. This date is based upon his age at the time of his death. He died at the age of fifty-sixty years, one month and seven days on May 28, 1885 at Dryden, Michigan. He is buried in the Whigville Cemetery at Dryden, Michigan.

The records of the Particular Baptist Chapel at Lode, England reported that William was christened on April 21, 1829. This date would agree with his age at the time of his death. Harry J. Butler reports that William came to America in 1851. This appears to be confirmed by the listing of passenger for the steamship Senator, which sailed from London and arrived at the Port of New York on July 31, 1851. In the ship's manifest, William's age is given as twenty-two and his occupation is given as that of a laborer.

In 1860, William was living in Addision Township, Oakland County, Michigan. His real estate was valued at $800 and his personal estate was valued at $250. In 1870, William was living in Dryden, Michigan. The value of his real estate was given as $6,100 and his personal estate was given as $1,450. His age, as reported in the 1870 United States census return, was given as forty-one. This would confirm 1829 as the year of his birth.

In 1880, William was still living in Dryden, Michigan. He was a farmer at that time. It is interesting to note that according to the 1880 United States census, William's niece, Mary Ayres, was living with him and was employed as a servant.

William first married in 1852 to Sarah Clack, daughter of James Clack, Jr. and Mary Ann Butler, who was no relation to William. Sarah was born on February 6, 1834 in England. She died on June 28, 1872 at Dryden, Michigan. She is buried in the Kingsbury Cemetery in Addison Township, Oakland County, Michigan.

William and Sarah had four children.

1. Charles H. Butler was born on November 26, 1854 in Michigan. He died on May 23, 1923 in Jackson, Michigan.
2. Fidelia Butler was born about 1857 in Michigan. She died on May 13, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois.
3. James Samuel Butler was born on May 26, 1866 at Whigville, Michigan. He died on March 7, 1934 at Oxford, Michigan.
4. William Franklin Butler was born in June of 1872 in Michigan. He is reported to have died about 1949.

William married a second time on April 5, 1874 at Dryden, Michigan to Mary Ella Walker. Mary Ella was born on May 21, 1849 at Grand Rapids, Michigan. She died on February 6, 1881 at the age of thirty-one years, two months and nine days. She is buried in the Whigville Cemetery at Dryden, Michigan.

William and Mary Ella had one child.

1. Alice Louise Butler was born in May of 1875 in the State of Michigan. She died on October 28, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. The month and year of Alice's birth has been taken from the 1900 United States census return for Cassopolis, Michigan.

Sources:

1. Transcription of the tombstones in the Whigville Cemetery as provided on July 27, 1991 by Ms. Jan Jamerson of the Lapeer County Genealogical Society.
2. Information from Particular Baptist Chapel Register in Lode, Cambridgeshire, England as provided on April 13, 1989 by Mrs. G. Figures of Leeds, England.
3. Copy of three pages from the Bible of Mary Ann Clark, nee Butler, in the possession of Leslie Ousnamer.
4. England census for:
   • 1841 for Cambridgeshire, Bottisham, District 2, Registration district of Newmarker, Page 14.
   • 1861 for Cambridgeshire, Bottisham, District 2, Registration district of Newmarket, Page 21, Household schedule # 112, High Street.
5. United States Federal Census for:
   • 1850 for the Township of Addison, Oakland, Michigan, Page #, Dwelling 1134, Family 1134.
   • 1860 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 135, Dwelling 1062, Family 985.
   • 1860 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 168, Dwelling 1325, Family 1236.
   • 1860 for the Township of Addison, Oakland, Michigan, Page 172, Dwelling 1338, Family 1287.
   • 1860 for the Township of Addison, Oakland, Michigan, Page 170, Dwelling 1324, Family 1273.
   • 1870 for the Township of Addison, Oakland, Michigan, Page 3, Dwelling 22, Family 22.
   • 1870 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 41, Dwelling 350, Family 357.
   • 1870 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 41, Dwelling 348, Family 355.
   • 1870 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 34, Dwelling 290, Family 295.
   • 1880 for the Township of Addison, Oakland, Michigan, Page 7, SB 3, EB 247, Dwelling 58 Family 59.
   • 1880 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 23C, SB3, EB 165, Dwelling 265, Family 240.
   • 1880 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 25A, Dwelling 252, Family 257.
   • 1880 for Dryden, Lapeer, Michigan, Page 19C, Dwelling 203, Family 208.
   • 1900 for Grayling, Crawford, Michigan, Sheet 9B, Dwelling 192, Family 195.
   • 1900 for Metamora, Lapeer, Michigan, Sheet 2A, Dwelling 37, Family 37.
   • 1910 for Ward 7 of Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 3B, Dwelling 25, Family 93.
   • 1920 for Ward 7 of Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 14B, Dwelling -, Family 372.
   • 1920 for Ward 4 of Jackson, Jackson, Michigan, Sheet 9B, Dwelling 67, Family 50.
   • 1930 for Ward 6 of Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 13A, Dwelling 36, Family 299.
6. Information provided by emails dated November 10, 11, and 12, 2006 received from Ms. Leslie Ousnamer, nee Odell.
7. Michigan Department of Community Health’s GENDIS Internet page as referenced by Mrs. Leslie Ousnamer.
8. World War I draft registration cards for:
   • Guy Albert Butler.
   • Norval Doreas Butler.
   • Elgin Monroe Stockdale.
9. Copy of a July 14, 1951 letter from Harry J. Butler to Jessie Shrader, nee Butler concerning the Butler family genealogy.
10. Copy of the probate records for William Butler with documents dated July 13, 1885, December 29, 1885 and March 1, 1888.
11. Transcription of the obituary for James S. Butler and Jennie D. Butler, nee Lewis, which were provided by Mrs. Leslie Ousnamer.
12. Copy of the death registration for Mary Ella Butler, nee Walker.
13. Copy of the death registration for Daniel Sanborn.
14. Copy of the marriage registration for William Butler and Mary Ella Walker.
15. Copy of the probate records for Daniel Sanborn, which includes his Last Will and Testament, dated June 20, 1882, and a document dated June 15, 1887.
16. Various land transaction records from Oakland County, Michigan involving William Butler.
17. History of Oakland County, Michigan: a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principle interest Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1912, 975 pgs.
18. Oakland County, Michigan Vital Records, 1800-1917 as abstracted on http://www.ancestry.com.
19. Information provided by Bob Baltzell of Independence, Missouri.
20. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 as found at http://www.ancestry.com for:
    • The Steamship Senator [Page 2 Number 70].
    • The Steamship Samson [Page 1 Line1].

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